Trying to keep some Grizzly football discussions going here. What would you guys add to the list?
Reasons for an improved defense
1. Building off last season - as reports and press conference statements suggest there was a shift in the Grizzly defense on the final stretch of the season with big wins against strong offenses in EWU, MSU, and SDSU. Reports rolled in that the defense suddenly showed some very different looks, masked personnel differently, and used all new blitzes. This would suggest that if our new DC Jason Semore did provide the input that was rumored to be given, this defense will continue to grow. The 2016 defense seems to promise mixed looks of 3-4 and 4-3 defenses with 3-3-5 as well. It confused teams last season and with a full year to build on it things the defense should be a bear to prepare for. Additionally the additions of a safety coach in Schillenger and LBs coach in Niekamp gives Semore time to be a "walk-around DC" that can focus all over and not have to focus directly on the LBs like Gregorak did in daily practices.
2. This group is full of hitters and run-stoppers - yes all defenders that play at this level like to hit, but some just excel more. In the prior years the LB corps has been mostly made up of lighter and faster safeties that were converted to LBs. Now the LB corps will feature a mix of kids that came here as LBs out of high school and guys who have demonstrated on special teams and in defensive sets that they defend the run well and can lay the wood. Add in the hard-hitting safeties we have, the larger corners that are projected to start, and the new transfers at the D-line and you've got a lot of large and physical players out there. It's been a trade-off these last few years, improved pass coverage but getting ground out against run teams. This roster suggests a return to a top-tier rush defense.
3. We might have some of the best individual position players in the Big Sky - While maybe a bold prediction in some departments I do believe that this defense will have some of the very best in the Big Sky, if not the FCS. It starts with JR Nelson and Caleb Kidder. These two guys are some of the best in the business and key players that should help the defense. Can JR Nelson have a Trumaine Johnson-esque effect and lock down a portion of the field like we saw in 2011? Can Kidder become a Duncan / Saenz / Takai type of road block in the middle of the field? Beyond them I'm fully bought in to Connor Strahm and Josh Buss. Are they the best in the Big Sky? No, not yet. But they're going to surprise. Strahm is a menace and a bully on the field. Buss reminds me of a young Jordan Tripp.
And then the three reasons against improvement
1. No dominant pass-rusher - In all of our recent years it seems there's been an easy hand-off from dominant pass-rusher to the next. Now I'm not saying we don't have one, I'm expecting a lot from Ryan Johnson this year, but there isn't that heir-apparent that's just waiting and ready to go that I can see. In the pass-heavy Big Sky the Griz are going to need a few young D-ends to step up and will need Ryan Johnson to move to the next level. I believe he can, but we're going to have to wait and see.
2. Too many fresh starters - 8 of 11 will be new to the field. That's A LOT. The defense is bringing in transfers and moving a few guys around to build the defense up. One could point out that of some of the expected starters like McKinley, Delaney, Strahm, Buss, & Johnson that there were plenty of reps to be had on ST and situational spots... but that's a long stretch from that to starting full time. Prior years have also suggested that teams with a lot of turnover on the defense take step back (2008, 2012, 2014) but usually rebound the following year with experience (2009, 2013, 2015).
3. Big gap of inexperience at safety - Yamen Sanders returns as the only safety with experience, he had a good season as a run stopper but showed some needed improvement in the passing game (especially on big plays/deep passes/play-fakes). Manu Rasmussen was expected to start alongside him, but now he's transferred out. That leaves two walk-ons and two red shirt freshman. Mick Delaney made some noise on ST last season, but I don't think he really played a down at safety in games. Beyond that there's Timmons, Epperly, Sandry, and Williams... none of whom have played a down I don't think (plus there's Crow who arrives in the fall technically). Much like D-end we've got a vital position in the defense that'll need a few younger guys to adapt FAST.
(and yes I could've easily added "no Ty Gregorak" to a reason but I figured I'd focus more on roster and current coach based outlooks)
Reasons for an improved defense
1. Building off last season - as reports and press conference statements suggest there was a shift in the Grizzly defense on the final stretch of the season with big wins against strong offenses in EWU, MSU, and SDSU. Reports rolled in that the defense suddenly showed some very different looks, masked personnel differently, and used all new blitzes. This would suggest that if our new DC Jason Semore did provide the input that was rumored to be given, this defense will continue to grow. The 2016 defense seems to promise mixed looks of 3-4 and 4-3 defenses with 3-3-5 as well. It confused teams last season and with a full year to build on it things the defense should be a bear to prepare for. Additionally the additions of a safety coach in Schillenger and LBs coach in Niekamp gives Semore time to be a "walk-around DC" that can focus all over and not have to focus directly on the LBs like Gregorak did in daily practices.
2. This group is full of hitters and run-stoppers - yes all defenders that play at this level like to hit, but some just excel more. In the prior years the LB corps has been mostly made up of lighter and faster safeties that were converted to LBs. Now the LB corps will feature a mix of kids that came here as LBs out of high school and guys who have demonstrated on special teams and in defensive sets that they defend the run well and can lay the wood. Add in the hard-hitting safeties we have, the larger corners that are projected to start, and the new transfers at the D-line and you've got a lot of large and physical players out there. It's been a trade-off these last few years, improved pass coverage but getting ground out against run teams. This roster suggests a return to a top-tier rush defense.
3. We might have some of the best individual position players in the Big Sky - While maybe a bold prediction in some departments I do believe that this defense will have some of the very best in the Big Sky, if not the FCS. It starts with JR Nelson and Caleb Kidder. These two guys are some of the best in the business and key players that should help the defense. Can JR Nelson have a Trumaine Johnson-esque effect and lock down a portion of the field like we saw in 2011? Can Kidder become a Duncan / Saenz / Takai type of road block in the middle of the field? Beyond them I'm fully bought in to Connor Strahm and Josh Buss. Are they the best in the Big Sky? No, not yet. But they're going to surprise. Strahm is a menace and a bully on the field. Buss reminds me of a young Jordan Tripp.
And then the three reasons against improvement
1. No dominant pass-rusher - In all of our recent years it seems there's been an easy hand-off from dominant pass-rusher to the next. Now I'm not saying we don't have one, I'm expecting a lot from Ryan Johnson this year, but there isn't that heir-apparent that's just waiting and ready to go that I can see. In the pass-heavy Big Sky the Griz are going to need a few young D-ends to step up and will need Ryan Johnson to move to the next level. I believe he can, but we're going to have to wait and see.
2. Too many fresh starters - 8 of 11 will be new to the field. That's A LOT. The defense is bringing in transfers and moving a few guys around to build the defense up. One could point out that of some of the expected starters like McKinley, Delaney, Strahm, Buss, & Johnson that there were plenty of reps to be had on ST and situational spots... but that's a long stretch from that to starting full time. Prior years have also suggested that teams with a lot of turnover on the defense take step back (2008, 2012, 2014) but usually rebound the following year with experience (2009, 2013, 2015).
3. Big gap of inexperience at safety - Yamen Sanders returns as the only safety with experience, he had a good season as a run stopper but showed some needed improvement in the passing game (especially on big plays/deep passes/play-fakes). Manu Rasmussen was expected to start alongside him, but now he's transferred out. That leaves two walk-ons and two red shirt freshman. Mick Delaney made some noise on ST last season, but I don't think he really played a down at safety in games. Beyond that there's Timmons, Epperly, Sandry, and Williams... none of whom have played a down I don't think (plus there's Crow who arrives in the fall technically). Much like D-end we've got a vital position in the defense that'll need a few younger guys to adapt FAST.
(and yes I could've easily added "no Ty Gregorak" to a reason but I figured I'd focus more on roster and current coach based outlooks)
